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January 10, 2008

Teams kick off weight-loss contest

A group intent on weight loss isn’t waiting until December to see how its New Year’s resolutions will turn out.

Members are giving it 90 days.

Headed up by Ellen and Alan Martino, various teams kicked off a “Biggest Loser”-type contest this week with a weigh-in Monday at the New Castle Fire Department.

The Martinos are both nurses. Ellen works at Jameson Hospital; Alan is a paramedic for Noga Ambulance Service. They also are representatives for AdvoCare, a Dallas-based health and wellness company offering more than 70 exclusive nutritional and skincare products.

The Spark4Life competition takes a team approach to weight loss and better health, Ellen Martino said.

“We’re gearing this competition for people who want to get together with their friends, their families, have a team competition in a fun way that everyone wins,” she said. “If you do something together with a group of people, the motivation stays there, that’s what we’re kind of doing, is using friendships and co-workers in giving support.”

April 7 is the last day of the competition, and awards will be presented April 11. Success will be measured by total percentage of body fat and inches lost, and the winning teams and top individual will receive prizes.

Martino said teams can pick up members as they go along, so anyone can join at any time. She also stressed that the competition does not focus on crash dieting.

“We’re not doing it with a fast. It’s not a fad diet or anything like that,” she explained. “It’s good solid nutrition and things people can stick with.

“There are supplements everywhere. When you get the correct ones and start filling those gaps, people’s lives start returning to normal, their health starts returning to normal.”

Anyone wanting more information can call (724) 333-7034.

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